Real Proposal Story: A British Couple's Whirlwind NYC Engagement

First comes love, then comes marriage. But before the joy of wedding planning begins comes the biggest, happiest question of all: Will you marry me? Thanks to HowHeAsked, we found some real, romantic, and ridiculously creative proposal stories that will get you inspired, tearing up, or both!

A Sweet Home Alabama-style marriage proposal—complete with blue Tiffany jewelry box—sounds like an all-American dream, but British couple Kelly and David prove that its charm can cross the pond.

The couple met nearly nine years ago in their home town of South Shields, England, on Kelly's 18th birthday. Just a year later, they bought a home together—and started fielding the inevitable questions about when they would get married. "At just 19 years old, this concept was slightly scary, even though I knew David was the one!" Kelly says.

Brushing aside the nosy questions, Kelly and David enjoyed a long courtship as they established their careers and traveled the world together. Their favorite destination? New York City.

"I often wondered how David would propose, but never guessed that it would be as special as it was," Kelly says. "David put in six months' worth of planning and saving to make it perfect!"

On a snowy March day, Kelly and nine of her relatives, including her mother and grandmother, flew out to New York. When the flakes finally stopped, on the second day of their trip, Kelly's cousins decided they all should get primped before shopping and strolling through Central Park, with a planned photo opportunity on the park's Gapstow Bridge.

"Little did I know this was a plan!" Kelly says. "David had asked that my Mam get me to the bridge for 12:30 p.m." Arriving at 12:15, the group was early, and Kelly grew a little irritated that they weren't using the time to explore the rest of the park. "An ice cream was suggested to delay time, then another photo opportunity," she recalls.

Kelly asked her mother to see the picture, but she got a "Kel, turn around," in response. To her delight and complete surprise, David was standing there, with a huge grin on his face. "I could not understand how he was here in New York; I had only spoken to him that morning and he was in England, or so I thought," Kelly says. David got down on one knee asked her to be his wife, and gave her an empty Tiffany box as a hired professional photographer captured the whole thing.

After Kelly selected her favorite, David surprised her with a family-filled afternoon tea at Gordon Ramsay at The London. And the surprises didn't end there: David had booked an extra three days for himself and his new fiancée at a hotel overlooking Central Park, complete with champagne breakfasts, private dinners, shopping, and sightseeing.

"This was a trip of a lifetime and one that I will never forget," Kelly says. We can certainly see why.

Our Takeaways

1. The little blue box: Honestly, we didn't know if anyone other than TV and movie characters who have gotten the classic "pick one" Tiffany engagement ring moment. And yet, Kelly had that and more. Color us blue with envy!

2. It's all about the experience: An extended trip to New York, world-class dinners, and afternoon teas? After nearly nine years together, David certainly learned a thing or two about how to make a proposal truly special for his bride-to-be!

3. Make it a family affair: It's lovely that all of Kelly's close female relatives made the trip to New York with her for her special moment. Better yet? Only her mother and grandmother were in on the proposal surprise! Her cousins were just as surprised as she was.